Construction with adjustable shank portions



B. HELD Sept. 20, 1960 SHOE CONSTRUCTION WITH ADJUSTABLE SHANK PORTIONS Filed 0G12. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r ll \I.\.| Illlllllk llllllllll lllllllllllllllll INVENTOR 5E 7 7 Y HEL Wx Rm ATTORNEY B. HELD Sept. 20, 1960 SHOE CONSTRUCTION WITH ADJUSTABLE SHANK PORTIONS 2 Sheets--Sheeil 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1958 INVENTOR 55777 HELD Ewwa ML ATTORNEY United States Patent4 O CONSTRUCTION WITH ADJUSTABLE SHANK PORTIONS Betty Held, New York, N.Y. (14 W. Elm St., Chicago 10, lll.)

Filed Oct. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 764,834

7 Claims. (Cl. :i6-2.5)

This invention relates to shoe constructions, and more particularly to adjustable shoes.

My invention is concerned primarily with shoes that may be adjusted for length by varying the length of the shank and which also may be adjusted for width by providing uppers of stretch type material.

It is well known that adjustable shoes may be made by providing various types of Shanks which are adjustable for the length of the shoe and by other means. Prior to my invention, these means were usually mechanical types of fastening means which involved cumbersome and bulky portions placed in sliding engagement and fastened by means of screws, rivets and/or other metallic parts. As a result, the adjustable shoes were neither practical nor comfortable, nor could they be made in accordance with the dictates of prevailing fashions. The present invention seeks to overcome the above objections by providing a simple construction in a basic shoe having a toe portion, an adjustable shank portion, and a heel portion in which the adjustment at the shank between the toe and heel portion is made without the use of metallic parts and with materials more comparable with usual types of material used in shoe construction.

It is a further object of my invention to provide such a shoe construction which is adjustable for width.

It is another object of my invention to provide an adjustable shoe construction wherein the adjustment is made by means which are compact and positive.

Another object of my invention is to provide such an adjustable shoe construction which may be made to conform with various styles which may be in vogue from time to time.

It is also an object of`my invention to provide an adjustable shoe where toe and heel portions may be separated and readjusted simply and easily so that a shoe may be Varied by providing different types of toe portions and heel portions and so that a given adjustable shoe may easily be adjusted to be worn by different persons with different foot sizes.

Another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable shoe for children which may be easily readjusted for the foot size of a child as its foot grows larger.

Further objections and advantages will appear in the specification hereinbelow.

My invention will best be understood from a consideration of the following detailed specification in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof. Nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not conned to this disclosure and may be varied to suit many styles of shoes for men, women and children, without materially departing from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my shoe; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the toe portion and the bottom of the upper shank of my shoe; Fig. 3 is another perspective view showing the top of the lower shank and heel portion of my shoe; Fig. 4

Patented Sept. 20, 1960 ICC 2 is a perspective detail of the adjusting means for the length of the shank of my shoe; Fig. 5 is a further enlarged cross-sectional view of a side elevation; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of my invene tion showing size indicating lines on the bottom of the lower shank of my shoe; Fig. 7 is a portion of the toe of another modied form of my shoe having an expansible upper for width adjustment; Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the form of toe portion shown in Fig. 7 with dotted lines to show the expanding adjustment, and Fig. 9 is another modified form of my shoe in a style for children, having an adjustable upper, the features of which are shown in a partial cutaway by means of dotted lines as well as an adjustable shank, as shown in dotted lines. Reference numeral 10 represents the complete shoe which comprises a toe portion 11, an upper shank 12, a lower shank 13 and a heel portion 14.

The various portions of my shoe may be made in any manner known to the art.

In the rst form of shoe shown, as represented in Figs. 1 through 6, the toe portion 11 which is made together with the upper shank 12; has an outer sole 1'5, a midsole 16, and an inner sole 17. The outer sole has a slit 18. The toe portion is finished by having an upper 19 which I prefer to make of a stretch type of material such as stretch nylon or stretch satin or similar material. The type of stretch material that I refer to is well known in the trade and may be used for stretch socks and other garments where it is desired. The end of the upper shank 12 is finished in the form of a tongue or tab 20.

The heel portion 14 and lower shank 13 of my shoe is comprised of a usual type of wooden heel 21 having a steel shank support 22 attached by means of a screw 23; an outer sole 24, under the steel Shanks support 22; an insert 25 over the steel shank support 22; a midsole 26 and a heel pad 27. The sock lining 27 is placed over the midsole 26 in such a manner that there will be a space 28 and an opening 29 so that the tab 20 of the upper shank 12 'may be slidably inserted through the opening' 29 and into the space 28 between the midsole 26 and the heel pad 27. The lower shank 13 has a tongue or tab 30 at its forward end, which is adapted to be inserted into the slit 18 and slid forward into a space 31 Aprovided between the sole 15 and the midsole 16 of the` toe portion 11.

The heel pad 27 is mounted on top of the rear of the midsole 26. In mounting the heel pad 27, a space 28 is left between the heel pad 27 and the midsole 26. This space 28 has a narrow opening 29 which is in the formof a slit. This space 28 is provided for by fastening the heel pad 27 only at its outer edges by means of cement or stitches or in any other manner well known to the art. The opening 29 occurs between the forward portion of the heel pad 27, and the midsole 26 because the forward portion of the heel pad 27 is left uncernented orunstitched to the midsole. Thus, the tab 20 which may be integral with the upper shank 12 may be inserted through the opening 29 into the space 28. The tab 30 which may be integral with the lower shank 13 may also be inserted through the slit 18 into the space 31 which is provided between the sole 15 and the midsole 16 of the toe portion 11. The space 31 is provided in the same manner and construction as the space 28. The heel 21 may be finished oit by a covering of material or leather 32 and a leather tip 33.

The various portions of my shoe as described, are made of leather or other suitable material well known to the art and are fastened together by means of the usual adhesives or stitching also well known to the I provide means for both attaching and adjusting 4the toe portion 11 and upper shank 12 to the lower shank 13 and heel portion 14 by using a material such asV that deanziana-:fL

3 scribed and disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,717,437, granted September 13, 1955, on application oil'V .George de lvlgestral..` The material describedr rin the? mentioned'patent Vtole Mestral, and which I. shall here-y inafter refer to: as the' grippingmaterial?s hasaa:fe1nalev portion 34.- vvhiclry is bonded by adhesive or stitchedto the. bottom of' the midsole 16V of the upper shank 12 and the tualev portion 35 is either bonded `or stitched to the upper portion of the, midsole 26 of the. lower'shank'13. When an. area of the male portion 35 is mated to the female portion 34, the portions 35` and Y34 will adhere tol each other'with a degree of permanence suicient" to maintainithe upper and lower shank portions 12 and 13 of my shoe 10 in attachment'in cooperation with they tabs ZOLand 30 the slit '18 and the opening'29. Nevervtheless, the upper shank 12 and the lower shank 13 may be easilypartedby manually separating same' so.v that the toe 11 and the upper shank 12 may be separated from the lower shank 13 and heel portion 14 for purposes of' adjustment or changingtoes 1I Vor heels 14. The action of the male portion 35 and the female portion 34 of the gripping material and the constructionof the said gripping material isfully disclosed inthe aforementioned application'of De Mestral;

. When the shoe 10 is adjusted for the median length :the male and female gripping materials 3S and 34 will be in corresponding facing relationship. When the shoe I is then made either longer or shorter it becomes apparent that the ends of materials 34'and 35. will overlap and a portion of each material will mate,r with the balance of each piece of Ymaterial resting againstV the op- .posite shank, I2 or 13, respectively.

. The male portion 35 may be called a material engaging material, and the female portion 34 may be called a material adaptedto be engaged by a material engaging material. v

' It willy readily be seenrthat by merely placing the me removed fromthe foot of the wearer andthe component parts separated manually in themannerdescribed above.

' In addition to the adjustment Vfor length, the' shoe as Y to hold the wearers foot in position in the toe portion 11 of the shoe 10. Materials such as leather, fabric, plastic w 'Ihematerialused should beyieldable Yand yetY have'sutcient strength andrigidity.V

4 of the material, they will spread and take a wider position as shown in the dotted line portions of Fig. 8.

I may also provide, if desired, a bow, imitation flower or other ornament 40.

In another form of myinvention shown in Fig. 9, the construction of the toe, upper shank, lower shank and heel'portions is substantially similar tothe construction of these elements in the form of invention shown in Figs. 1 through 5. In the style of the shoe in Fig. 9 however, a iiat heel 41 is. substituted for the high heel 21. The construction of its Yuppers 42 and 43 is also different inthis respect. vInstead of. having. a stretch material, the uppers 42 and 43 are made of the usual leathers used in the construction ofuppers for childrens shoes. I have provided a strap 44 forY purposes of style. However, this is not essential to this formrof the invention.l The upper 43 has tongues or tabs 45- located` at each side thereof which are designed to tit into slotsv 46 which in turn are provided; adjacent to spaces47' at the sides of the Vrear upper 43. Thus, when the adjustment for length is. madethrough the shank portion of, the shoe, the upper portion Ymay be shortened or lengthened as the toe and heel portions aref moved towatdsV and away from eachother. Imay'alsoI provide grippingmaterial on thev tabs 45 and withinthe spaces 47 to serve as `an adjustable fastening in thev same; manner as I have provided for` the upper shank. 12;'and' lower shank `1,3 of. my adjustable shoe.

I have also; provided, desired, aY size indicator means 48which canbe located atthe bottom of the outer sole 24v of theV lower shanky 13. I'hesizcindicator 4S comprises numbered lines 4.9whiehare; readV in conjunc tion with that part ofthe outer sole 1'5 of vthe toe;y portion 11 which vforms the slit 18,.Y .'In .other Words, the size inf dicator 48 canV be so calibratedfthat when thcnumhexed line thusA is linedv up with 'slot 1,8., the size of the Shoe will conformtoa normalsizesixshoe. 1 I

Another feature of'my invention is thatit` canv be de signed in several-.rmiverlsalsize ranges for infants,Y children and adolescents, as well as for other persons. This makes it possible to sell various types ofielothing outiits, including sho es,1as:v packaged units. For. example, ladies." robes, loungewear, lingerie and beach attire; with matching slippers or shoes, can be. sold iny a packaged unit, without the .necessity of carrying separate packages Y for all. of the various sized shoes needed for the different sizesV ofYV robes, loungewear,` lingerie and beach. All that lthe dealer need stock in his store would 'bathe or rubber, mentioned above, may have suicient strength and, rigidity for this purpose. However, any specific maferial which may be used for the manufacture of Varticles ofv clothing and which may be stiifened by shcllac or other stiffener, or by providing a Wire frameV therefor in lany manner known to the art, may be used. One portion: of the upper 36Y is'either sewn or'bonded to the side Yof theY toe portion 11 so that its upper end `38will ex- Ytend between, over and beyond the centerline of the shoesole.V YThe other portion of the upper 37 has an end 39 which extends, up, over and beyond the center p or- .tion of the shoe and overlaps a substantial portion of the end 38 of the otherpor'tion of the upper 36. 'Because .of the relative rigidity of the material used, both por? .tions of the .upper 36 and 37 will overlap each other and unless pressure is exerted om within, will take anor-z Yrnalposition as shown by the solid lines in Fig. `8`. If a usual sizes of robes, loungewear, lingerierand beaclrat'.-Y tire and bythe means of my inventionrtlnf.:` manufacturer could providea. universally sized shoe for each given size of the clothing article. Yf1 l My invention.' could also beutilized-for providing a readily available supply of lshoesin. diierent- Ysizes without the necessity of carrying a large` stock, atplaces such as gift shops, boutique departments, hotels, railroad stations and airports so that travellers. could be serviced Yduring hours when regular shoe. stores'are closed.

Another advantagefof my invention is; that Yan. ad-

justable shoe which is. readily adjustable, can be made' larger during such periods of time as the `wearer might have a temporary `swollen foot'condit'ion or foot injury. Still another 'advantage fis that persons. who might have one. foot Vlarger thanrthe other, canbefeasilytted with'shoes'without having them madeV to orda-n".Y

I therefore Adesire'fto be protected Within thescope of foot wider than the normalwidth oftheupper portions Y Y 36'Vand 37 is inserted, because of the Vyieldable quality Y' Y l. A shoe havingseparate.upper-,andl lower Vshank; `porterial-engaging means including hook-shaped sections, and the other of said shank portions comprising a material having thread-like portions adapted to be engaged by the material engaging means; whereby when the separate upper and lower shank portions are tted together the material-engaging means of one of the said shank portions will engage the thread-like portions adapted to be engaged thereby of the other of said shank portions and the said portions will be retained in releasably secured engagement; andl in which said releasably secured engagement of the said shank portions may be made in different positions to provide for a combination of said shank portions resulting in a shoe of different lengths.

2. A shoe as defined in claim l in which each of the shank portions has a tab on an end and in which the toe and heel portions have slotted portions respectively adapted to receive the mentioned tab included in the other portions.

3. A shoe, as dened in claim 1 having an upper, a portion of which is made of a stretch type material.

4. A shoe, as dened in claim l, having the upper comprising overlapping portions of resilient materials.

5. A shoe, as dened in claim 1, having an adjustable upper.

6. A shoe having separate upper and lower shank portions, one of said shank portions being connected with the toe portion of the shoe and the other of said shank portions being connected with the heel portion of the shoe, with one of said shank portions comprising a material having threads of a synthetic resin material with portions of said threads being in the form of materialengaging means including hook-shaped sections, and the other of said shank portions comprising a material havsagesse ing thread-like portions adapted to be engaged by the material engaging means; whereby when the separate upper and lower shank portions are fitted together the material-engaging means of one of the said shank portions will engage the thread-like portions adapted to be engaged thereby of the other of the said shank portions and the said portions will be retained in releasably secured engagement; and in which said releasably secured engagement of the said shank portions may be made in diierent positions to provide for a combination of said shank portions resulting in a shoe of different lengths; said toe having an upper with at least one tab extending rearwardly therefrom, and said heel having an upper with at least one space adapted to receive a tab extending rearwardly from the upper of the toe.

7. An adjustable shoe as defined in claim 6 in which the said tab extending from the upper of the toe portion is adjustabl'y secured within the space in lthe upper of the heel portion by means of a combination of materials, comprising the last one of said combination of materials having material-engaging means including hookshaped sections.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 4,497 Vetter May 2, 1846 2,717,437 De Mestral Sept. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 674,292 Great Britain June 18, 1952 797,027 France Feb. 3, 1936 1,026,809 France Feb. 11, 1953 

